Page 207 TITLE 18—CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE § 921 Mandatory punishment provision was rephrased in CHAPTER 44—FIREARMS the alternative. Minor changes were made in phraseology. Sec. 921. Definitions. AMENDMENTS 922. Unlawful acts. 1994—Pub. L. 103–322 substituted ‘‘fined under this 923. Licensing. title’’ for ‘‘fined not more than $5,000’’. 924. Penalties. 925. Exceptions: Relief from disabilities. § 916. 4–H Club members or agents 925A. Remedy for erroneous denial of firearm. 926. Rules and regulations. Whoever, falsely and with intent to defraud, 926A. Interstate transportation of firearms. holds himself out as or represents or pretends 926B. Carrying of concealed firearms by qualified himself to be a member of, associated with, or law enforcement officers. an agent or representative for the 4–H clubs, an 926C. Carrying of concealed firearms by qualified retired law enforcement officers. organization established by the Extension Serv- 927. Effect on State law. ice of the United States Department of Agri- 928. Separability. culture and the land grant colleges, shall be 929. Use of restricted ammunition. fined under this title or imprisoned not more 930. Possession of firearms and dangerous weapons than six months, or both. in Federal facilities. 931. Prohibition on purchase, ownership, or pos- (June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 743; Pub. L. session of body armor by violent felons. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(F), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147.) AMENDMENTS 2004—Pub. L. 108–277, §§ 2(b), 3(b), July 22, 2004, 118 HISTORICAL AND REVISION NOTES Stat. 866, 867, added items 926B and 926C. Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 76c (June 5, 1939, 2002—Pub. L. 107–273, div. C, title I, § 11009(e)(2)(B), ch. 184, § 1, 53 Stat. 809). Nov. 2, 2002, 116 Stat. 1821, added item 931. Section 76c of title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., was incor- 1993—Pub. L. 103–159, title I, § 104(b), Nov. 30, 1993, 107 porated in this section and section 707 of this title. Stat. 1543, added item 925A. Reference to offense as a misdemeanor was omitted 1990—Pub. L. 101–647, title XXXV, § 3523, Nov. 29, 1990, in view of definitive section 1 of this title. Words ‘‘upon 104 Stat. 4924, struck out ‘‘clause’’ after ‘‘Separability’’ conviction thereof’’ were omitted, since criminal pun- in item 928. ishment can follow only after conviction. 1988—Pub. L. 100–690, title VI, § 6215(b), Nov. 18, 1988, Minor changes were made in phraseology. 102 Stat. 4362, added item 930. 1986—Pub. L. 99–308, § 107(b), May 19, 1986, 100 Stat. AMENDMENTS 460, added item 926A. 1994—Pub. L. 103–322 substituted ‘‘fined under this 1984—Pub. L. 98–473, title II, § 1006(b), Oct. 12, 1984, 98 title’’ for ‘‘fined not more than $300’’. Stat. 2139, added item 929. 1968—Pub. L. 90–618, title I, § 102, Oct. 22, 1968, 82 Stat. § 917. Red Cross members or agents 1214, reenacted chapter analysis without change. Pub. L. 90–351, title IV, § 902, June 19, 1968, 82 Stat. Whoever, within the United States, falsely or 226, added chapter 44 and items 921 to 928. fraudulently holds himself out as or represents TRACING OF FIREARMS IN CONNECTION WITH CRIMINAL or pretends himself to be a member of or an INVESTIGATIONS agent for the American National Red Cross for Memorandum of President of the United States, Jan. the purpose of soliciting, collecting, or receiving 16, 2013, 78 F.R. 4301, which requires Federal law en- money or material, shall be fined under this forcement agencies to ensure that all firearms recov- title or imprisoned not more than 5 years, or ered after Jan. 16, 2013, in the course of criminal inves- both. tigations and taken into Federal custody are traced through the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and (June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 743; Pub. L. Explosives at the earliest time practicable, was edi- 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(G), Sept. 13, 1994, torially reclassified and is set out as a note under sec- 108 Stat. 2147; Pub. L. 107–56, title X, § 1011(c), tion 40901 of Title 34, Crime Control and Law Enforce- Oct. 26, 2001, 115 Stat. 396.) ment. HISTORICAL AND REVISION NOTES PROMOTING SMART GUN TECHNOLOGY Based on section 4 of title 36, U.S.C., 1940 ed., Patri- Memorandum of President of the United States, Jan. otic Societies and Observances (Jan. 5, 1905, ch. 23, § 4, 4, 2016, 81 F.R. 719, which requires the Department of 33 Stat. 600; June 23, 1910, ch. 372, § 1, 36 Stat. 604). Defense, the Department of Justice, and the Depart- Section 4 of title 36, U.S.C., 1940 ed., Patriotic Soci- ment of Homeland Security to conduct or sponsor re- eties and Observances, was divided into this section and search into gun safety technology, review such re- section 706 of this title. search, and explore potential ways to further its use Reference to ‘‘jurisdiction’’ of the United States was and development to more broadly improve gun safety, omitted as unnecessary in view of definition of ‘‘United was editorially reclassified and is set out as a note States’’ in section 5 of this title. under section 40901 of Title 34, Crime Control and Law Reference to offense as a misdemeanor was omitted Enforcement. in view of definitive section 1 of this title. Words ‘‘upon conviction thereof’’ were omitted as § 921. Definitions punishment cannot be imposed until conviction is se- (a) As used in this chapter— cured. (1) The term ‘‘person’’ and the term ‘‘whoever’’ Minor changes were made in phraseology. include any individual, corporation, company, AMENDMENTS association, firm, partnership, society, or joint 2001—Pub. L. 107–56 substituted ‘‘5 years’’ for ‘‘one stock company. year’’. (2) The term ‘‘interstate or foreign commerce’’ 1994—Pub. L. 103–322 substituted ‘‘fined under this includes commerce between any place in a State title’’ for ‘‘fined not more than $500’’. and any place outside of that State, or within § 921 TITLE 18—CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE Page 208 any possession of the United States (not includ- (7) The term ‘‘rifle’’ means a weapon designed ing the Canal Zone) or the District of Columbia, or redesigned, made or remade, and intended to but such term does not include commerce be- be fired from the shoulder and designed or rede- tween places within the same State but through signed and made or remade to use the energy of any place outside of that State. The term an explosive to fire only a single projectile ‘‘State’’ includes the District of Columbia, the through a rifled bore for each single pull of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the posses- trigger. sions of the United States (not including the (8) The term ‘‘short-barreled rifle’’ means a Canal Zone). rifle having one or more barrels less than six- (3) The term ‘‘firearm’’ means (A) any weapon teen inches in length and any weapon made from (including a starter gun) which will or is de- a rifle (whether by alteration, modification, or signed to or may readily be converted to expel a otherwise) if such weapon, as modified, has an projectile by the action of an explosive; (B) the overall length of less than twenty-six inches. frame or receiver of any such weapon; (C) any (9) The term ‘‘importer’’ means any person en- firearm muffler or firearm silencer; or (D) any gaged in the business of importing or bringing destructive device. Such term does not include firearms or ammunition into the United States an antique firearm. for purposes of sale or distribution; and the term (4) The term ‘‘destructive device’’ means— ‘‘licensed importer’’ means any such person li- (A) any explosive, incendiary, or poison censed under the provisions of this chapter. gas— (10) The term ‘‘manufacturer’’ means any per- (i) bomb, son engaged in the business of manufacturing (ii) grenade, firearms or ammunition for purposes of sale or (iii) rocket having a propellant charge of distribution; and the term ‘‘licensed manufac- more than four ounces, turer’’ means any such person licensed under the (iv) missile having an explosive or incendi- provisions of this chapter. ary charge of more than one-quarter ounce, (11) The term ‘‘dealer’’ means (A) any person (v) mine, or (vi) device similar to any of the devices de- engaged in the business of selling firearms at scribed in the preceding clauses; wholesale or retail, (B) any person engaged in the business of repairing firearms or of making (B) any type of weapon (other than a shot- or fitting special barrels, stocks, or trigger gun or a shotgun shell which the Attorney mechanisms to firearms, or (C) any person who General finds is generally recognized as par- is a pawnbroker. The term ‘‘licensed dealer’’ ticularly suitable for sporting purposes) by means any dealer who is licensed under the pro- whatever name known which will, or which visions of this chapter. may be readily converted to, expel a projectile (12) The term ‘‘pawnbroker’’ means any person by the action of an explosive or other propel- whose business or occupation includes the tak- lant, and which has any barrel with a bore of ing or receiving, by way of pledge or pawn, of more than one-half inch in diameter; and any firearm as security for the payment or re- (C) any combination of parts either designed payment of money. or intended for use in converting any device (13) The term ‘‘collector’’ means any person into any destructive device described in sub- who acquires, holds, or disposes of firearms as paragraph (A) or (B) and from which a destruc- curios or relics, as the Attorney General shall tive device may be readily assembled.